Sensex: Down 720.60 points (-0.90%) to 79,223.11.
Nifty 50: Shed 183.90 points (-0.76%) to close at 24,004.75.
Key Drags: IT and financial stocks.
2. Sector Performance
Biggest Losers:
Financial services (-1.1%) and Nifty Bank (-1.2%).
Key decliners: HDFC Bank (-2.5%) and ICICI Bank (-1.9%).
IT Stocks: TCS (-1.9%), Infosys, and ITC (-1%) led losses, reflecting concerns over fewer-than-expected U.S. rate cuts in 2025.
3. Stock Movers
Gainers:
Avenue Supermarts (+15%) after 17.5% YoY revenue growth in Q3.
Vishal Mega Mart (+10%) boosted by retail sector sentiment.
Losers:
Hero MotoCorp (-1.6%) following a dip in December sales.
4. Global Markets
European indices: Mixed, with DAX (-0.3%) and CAC 40 (-0.7%).
Asian indices: Shanghai Composite (-1.6%), while Hang Seng (+0.7%) and Kospi (+1.8%) gained.
5. Currency Watch
Indian Rupee: Closed at a record low of 85.77 against the U.S. dollar, marking nine straight weeks of losses.
Dollar Index: Down 0.33% at 109.03.
6. Crude Oil
Brent crude: Flat at $75.86 a barrel, supported by expectations of Chinese stimulus and potential U.S. rate cuts.
